What stainless steels handle acute edges the best?

S

SBaker34

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Jun 16, 2010
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I figured this would be the best place to ask. What stainless steels handle fine edges, let say under 15DPS the best without deformation or chipping? Where do s30v, s35vn, elmax etc for example end up?
 
Yup, Aeb-L

Elmax is nice, S30V and S35VN arn't great, CPM154 is pretty good, but AEB-L is king as far as I know.
 
jdm61 said:
Rare? If you shaved this morning, chances are you used AEB-L or its twin step brother 13C26.
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Rare in production knives I should say :p I'm not working on a knife, I just figured the knife making forum would have more experience with regrinds, acute edges etc because when you drastically change the edge angle your basically re purposing the knife.
 
Then I would go with Nathan's advice re the CPM 154 or Elmax. But remember that Elmax is a pretty different steel at 61+ than at 59 and I don't know if a lot of the production companies typically leave it that hard.
 
jdm61 said:
Then I would go with Nathan's advice re the CPM 154 or Elmax. But remember that Elmax is a pretty different steel at 61+ than at 59 and I don't know if a lot of the production companies typically leave it that hard.
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I think elmax is the ticket. Curious how hard the PM2 in elmax is though.
 
AEB-L, Nilox, CPM154, XHP

I personally don't believe in high vanadium stainless steel when it come to fine acute edge.
 
I think (um a WAG) Z-FiNit could be very close to a stainless 3V, given that a ht can successfully precipitate excess N into form of MoN (Molybdenum Nitride). At 61rc (dream on) it would be strong & tough and good wear resistance as well. Yeah yeah, too many IF(s).

Otherwise 14C28N, AEB-L and BeCut (0.72%C, 1.9%Mo, 0.6%V, 0.8%Nb)
 
Agreed,finished 2 knives last spring (Z-FiNit) took a keener edge than both 1095 or AEB-L.Crazy sharp,I'm not sure why it,s not more popular.Ordered up 3 more bars for some chef knives.
bluntcut said:
I think (um a WAG) Z-FiNit could be very close to a stainless 3V, given that a ht can successfully precipitate excess N into form of MoN (Molybdenum Nitride). At 61rc (dream on) it would be strong & tough and good wear resistance as well. Yeah yeah, too many IF(s).

Otherwise 14C28N, AEB-L and BeCut (0.72%C, 1.9%Mo, 0.6%V, 0.8%Nb)
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The two steels I think of have already been mentioned; AEB-L and Z-FiNit.

Chuck
 
Z-FiNit (Zapp Fine grain Nitrogen steel) is a nitrogen stainless steel that has been used extensively as a replacement for 52100 bearings. It is very different from most stainless steels. It forges well. It only has .30% carbon (.30% is not a typo). It has extreme corrosion resistance. Comparing the corrosion resistance of Z-FiNit to 440C is like comparing 440C to 1080.

The datasheet says 61 HRC is possible. We've only been able to hit 59. A heat treating guru we know recommended trying a 24 hour soak in LN to get higher hardness. I want to test this idea soon.

The wear resistance is excellent. Far better than 59 should be. One of our test knives is ground to the edge with no secondary bevel. We've tested it extensively in the kitchen and at a cooking class (the chef instructor offered to buy the knife). The knife has not chipped and the edge has not wrinkled.
I'm very impressed with the steel.

Z-FiNit is also know as LC200N and has similar composition as Cronidur 30.

Chuck
 
Soon I'll get a small bar of zfinit to make 4 stick-tang test knives. Will shoot (a moon shot type) for 60rc matrix hardness, plus 1rc or 2rc nitride+carbide hardness on top. Yeah, Peters only got 59rc, what is my 61-62rc chance, Chuck? :D

bluntcut said:
I think (um a WAG) Z-FiNit could be very close to a stainless 3V, given that a ht can successfully precipitate excess N into form of MoN (Molybdenum Nitride). At 61rc (dream on) it would be strong & tough and good wear resistance as well. Yeah yeah, too many IF(s).
...
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